Export-Import Bank Provides 140 Billion KRW Loan for Establishing Hospital in Bangladesh

Published 18 Sep.2022 16:04(KST)

Exterior view of the Comprehensive Center Hospital at BSM Medical College, Bangladesh.

[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] The Export-Import Bank of Korea announced on the 18th that it has provided approximately 140 billion KRW in Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) loans for the establishment of the 'BSM Medical College Comprehensive Center Hospital' in Bangladesh.

EDCF is a fund for economic assistance to developing countries by the Korean government, providing long-term low-interest loans to support industrial development and economic stability in developing countries, as well as to promote economic exchanges with Korea.

The newly completed BSM Medical College Comprehensive Center Hospital is an affiliated hospital of BSM Medical College, the first national medical college located in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is the first center-based specialized hospital (a hospital specialized in treating severe diseases) established in Bangladesh.

The hospital has 700 beds across 9 floors above ground and 2 basement levels. It is planned to operate around five centers: Emergency Medical Center, Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Center, Gastroenterology Center, Nephrology Center, and Maternal and Child Health Center.

According to the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the EDCF supported not only the hospital building, medical equipment, and medical information systems but also capacity-building training for medical staff through Eulji University Hospital, enabling the comprehensive center hospital to operate immediately upon completion.

An official from the bank stated, "As a follow-up to this project, we are pursuing approval for the second BSM Medical College hospital construction project worth 300 million USD this year," adding, "With the 50th anniversary of Korea-Bangladesh diplomatic relations next year, the cooperative relationship between the two countries is expected to strengthen further, and the overseas expansion of K-healthcare will also accelerate."